Threshold with door-actuated weatherstrip



s. HUFF 2,829,405

THRESHOLD WITH DOOR-ACTUATED WE ATHERSTRIP April 8, 1958 Filed May 28. 1956 1 Z INVENTOR. .57/7/VLEV #(FF 5 W W United States Patent THRESHOLD WITH DOOR-ACTUATED WEATHERSTRIP Stanley Hufl, Pocatello, Idaho, assignor to The Inventors Development Corporation, Las Vegas, Nev., a corporation of Nevada Application May 28, 1956, Serial No. 587,603

Claims. (01. 20-64) This invention relates in general to door thresholds containing weatherstrips and more particularly to thresholds in which the Weatherstrip is automatically extended and retracted by closing and opening the door.

This application is a continuation of my prior copending application Serial No. 353,103, filed May 5, 1953, which has now become abandoned.

Weather-stripping for doorways has long been used as a means of conserving heat and preventing drafts. The simplest method amounts to tacking a strip of insulating material around the edges of the door. This method works well enough for the top and side edges of the door, since they abut against the door frame molding, but it is not satisfactory for the bottom edge.

The bottom edge of the door instead of abutting against the molding when the door is closed, aligns in closely spaced relationship with a threshold built up slightly from theiioor. The Weatherstrip on the bottom edge must fill this space between the threshold and the door. If a strip of insulating material is attached to the bottom edge of the door for this purpose, it is dragged across the threshold as the door is opened and closed and soon wears out.

Attempts have been made to improve this condition by positioning the Weatherstrip in the threshold instead of on the bottom edge of the door. This is not entirely satisfactory either, however, because the Weatherstrip then presents a trip hazard and is easily worn and scuffed by persons passing through the doorway.

As a further development, thresholds have been designed with weatherstrips which are extended and retracted by the closing and opening of the door. When the door is closed, the Weatherstrip extends from the threshold and engages the doors bottom edge, and when the door is opened, the strip retracts to give the threshold a flush upper surface. My invention is a threshold of this latter type whichhas several advantageous features not present in previously known devices.

It is a major object of my invention to provide a threshold with a door actuated, automatically extending and retracting weather strip which is simpler and less expensive to construct than those previously known, and readily lends itself to mass production.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a device in which the operating mechanism consists only of a single, one-piece operating lever which may be stamped or cut from sheet metal material, and bent to the proper form.

A further object of my invention is to provide a threshold-mounted Weatherstrip of this type in which the operating lever is free of any positive mechanical connection, and consists of a trigger and an arm which may be resiliently deformed with respect to each other to provide a pressure contact between the Weatherstrip and the door.

It is also an object of my invention to provide such a threshold and Weatherstrip construction which is more easily adaptable to different sizes of doorways than those previously known. t I

2,829,4h5 Patented A r. 8, 195a Still a further object of my invention is to provide such a device in which the portion of the Weatherstrip nearest the hinged edge, of the door is raised first to provide for more effective sealing.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed discussion of a preferred embodiment thereof and from the accompanying drawings in which: 2

Figure l is a perspective view of my invention shown positioned in a doorway adjacent the hinge jamb of the door frame with the door open;

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partially in section, showing the operating lever as it is positioned in the weatherstrip and sheath when the door is open;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the operating lever and Weatherstrip after initial engagement by the door, upon closing;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the operating lever and Weatherstrip when the door is fully closed; and

Figure 5 is a sectional end view showing the weatherstrip in both its extended and retracted positions.

, Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, the numeral designates, in general, my

threshold and door-actuated Weatherstrip.

A threshold 11 is mounted in the bottom of a door frame between the hinge jamb 12 and the latch jamb (not shown) The threshold has an elongated raised center portion 13 and two side portions 14 which taper downwardly from the center portion to the floor. The surface of the center portion 13 is horizontally disposed and is grooved so that it serves as a treadway for persons passing through the doorway.

A door 15 is shown hinge-mounted to the hinge jamb 12 so that it may be swung open and closed in the normal manner. When the door is closed, its bottom edge 16 is aligned over the threshold and is slightly spaced therefrom.

The center portion 13 of the threshold has a U-shaped sheath 17 recessed along its center which lies directly below the doorsbottom edge. The bottom wall 18 of the sheath 17 rests on the floor. This bottom wall is provided with holes 19 to allow the threshold to be screw-attached to the floor.

A Weatherstrip 20 is mounted in the sheath 17. The Weatherstrip is constructed of semi-rigid material, preferably light-weight metal and designed to make a freely sliding fit with the sheath 17. The Weatherstrip 20 has a groove 21 in its bottom surface which extends upwardly into the strip substantially beyond its center. The sides 22 of the strip are parallel to the sides of the sheath and are of such a width that when their lower edges are resting on the bottom wall of the sheath, the upper surface 23 of the Weatherstrip is positioned flush with the horizontal surface of the center portion 13.

For raising the Weatherstrip 20 vertically in the sheath 17, an L-shaped operating lever 25 is provided. The lever is made preferably from flat sheet metal material and consists of a flat, elongated, rectangularly-shaped arm 26 and a thumb-shaped trigger 27. The arm 26 is horizontally disposed on edge in the bottom of thevsheath with its face surface vertical, and positioned freely and slidably in the Weatherstrip groove 21. The upper portion 23 of the groove 21 is just wide enough to freely receive the arm 26 and serves to hold the arm in proper position.

The lower portion of the groove has downwardly and of the trigger intersects the 'face surface of the arm at substantially a right angle but forms slightly less than a right angle with the bottom edge of the arm. The trigger protrudes from the threshold adjacent the hinge jamb 12 through a slot 30 provided therefor, and is thus disposed between the hinged .edge 31 of the door and .the hinge jamb in face-to-face relationship. However, .since the face surface of the :trigger 27 forms'lessthana right angle with the bottom edge of the arm 26; when themann isresting in its normal unactuated position ou the bottom wall of the sheath 17 with its bottom edge substantially horizontal, the trigger is angularly disposed with respect to the vertical hinge jamb. This angle a between the face surface of the trigger and the hinge jamb Lcall the actuating angle (see Figure 2).

The operation of my threshold-mounted-Weatherstrip is as follows. When the door 13 is swung to its closed position, its hinged edge ,31 engages the trigger 27 and angularly displaces it into-alignment with the substantially vertical surface of thehinge jamb 12. This action rocks the operating lever about its heel 32 and .raises the free end 33 of the arm which, in turn, engages and raises the Weatherstrip 20. i

To give a more rapid and effective closing action to .my Weatherstrip, the length x of the arm .26 is made slightly shorter than half the length of the Weatherstrip. The arm then engages the Weatherstrip a little to the hinge jamb side of its center point and thus raises the hinge jamb end of said Weatherstrip first. When this end of the strip contacts the bottomedge of the door, it pro vides a fulcrum for the raising of the other end as additional force is applied through the operation lever (see Figures 3 and 4).

Because of the angular relationship between face surfaces of the trigger and arm, the forces applied to .the

operating lever during rocking tend to bend the face surface of the trigger along a substantially lateral axis.

from light-weight sheet metal material and easily bent into form.

Also, because of the natural resilience present between the trigger and arm of the operating lever as I have formed it, and becauseof my system of positioning the trigger between the hinged edge ofthe door and the hinge jamb, my device has considerable versatility. First, it can providexa pressure contact between the-Weatherstrip and the door. Second, no critical adjustments are necessary to adapt my operating mechanism to a particulardoor. As long as the actuating angle it is made slightly greater than that necessary to raise the Weatherstrip into contact with the door, my device will function properly. If the actuating angle is considerably greater than is necessary,

my operating lever will be permanently deformed during the first operation because the force of the door upon closing will bend the trigger with respect to the arm.

This bending will bring the actuating angle within its proper limits and further operationsof the device will be normal.

It will also be seen that my threshold may be easily adapted for different size door frames. This may be done by merely cutting a pre-formed section of my.

threshold 11 and Weatherstrip to the proper length and then shortening the length x of the operating lever arm 26 so that it is not quite half of the length of the strip.

The operating lever is then adjusted to give the desired rise to the Weatherstrip by merely bending the trigger 27 with respect to the arm 26 to set the actuating angle as discussed above.

In addition, it will be seen that my invention readily lends itself to mass production and can be manufactured in one standard size and tailored on the job site to fit Since my trigger is capable of considerable resilient deformation in this direction by relatively small "forces, the

operating lever is resilient with respect to the forces applied to it.

I use this resilience of my operating lever to provide a pressure contact between the Weatherstrip and bottom edge of the door. This is done by adjusting the actuating angle a so that the Weatherstrip is raised to a suflicient height to completely engage the bottom edge 16 of the door just slightly before the door reaches its fully closed position. Then, as the door is moved on to fully closed,

forcing the trigger through its final angular displacement, the operating lever is resiliently deformed and maintains pressure upon the Weatherstrip.

When the door 13 is opened again, the hingededge 31 moves away from the hinge jamb 12 releasing the pressure on the trigger. This first allows the operating lever to spring back into its normal shape and release the pressure on the contact between the bottom edgeof the door and the Weatherstrip. Then, upon further opening of the door, the operating lever is completely released and the Weatherstrip falls, by gravity, back into its unactuated position in the sheath 17. The operating lever is then restored to its normal unactuated position with the arm 26 resting on the bottom wall 18 of the sheath and the face surface of the trigger 27 displaced from the hinge jamb 12 by the actuating angle a. My device therefore properly re-sets itself for the next cycle of operation.

To allow for easier rocking, the heel 32 of the operating lever is rounded. The operating lever also has a rounded toe 35 on the upper edge of the arm 26 adjacent its free end 33. This provides for more even contact between the Weatherstrip and the arm.

As will be readily appreciated from the above description, my invention provides several distinct advantages heretofore unavailable. For instance, I have devised an operating mechanism which does not require any mechanical attachment to the Weatherstrip or threshold in order to maintain its position and operate properly. Furthermore, my operating lever may be stamped or. cut

any smaller doorway.

While the particular apparatus herein shown anddescribed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that this is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiment of my invention and that I do not mean to limit myself to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A door threshold construction comprising: a threshold having a longitudinally disposed vertically opening recessed sheath therein; a Weatherstrip freely and slidably mounted in said sheath; and means .for raising said Weatherstrip in said sheath, said means having atrigger positioned between the hinged edge of saiddoor andits associated hingejamb which is engaged and angularly displaced by said hinged edge upon closing of said door, and an arm joined to said trigger which engages and raises said Weatherstrip one end before the other when said trigger is angularly displaced, said trigger being capable of resilient deformation with respect tosaid arm to provide a pressure contact between said weatherstrip and the bottom edge of said door.

2. A door threshold construction comprising: a threshold having a longitudinally disposed vertically opening recessed sheath therein; a Weatherstrip freely and slidably disposed in said sheath; and a single one-piece ,L-shaped sheath and joined to said trigger with such angular relationship that whensaid trigger is angularlydisplaced said arm engages and raises said weatherstriplinto contact with the bottom edge of said door, said trigger being capable of resilient deformation with respect to said arm to provide a pressure contact between said Weatherstrip and the bottom edge of said door.

3. A door threshold construction comprising: a threshold having a recessed vertically opening sheath disposed longitudinally down the center thereof; a Weatherstrip slidably disposed in said sheath such that in its normal unactuated position the upper surface of said strip is flush with the top of said sheath; a groove in the bottom surface of said Weatherstrip parallel to the longitudinal axis thereof; a single L-shaped one-piece operating lever formed from flat sheet metal material and free from positive mechanical connection to said threshold and Weatherstrip for raising said strip vertically in said sheath, said operating lever having a flat elongated arm disposed with its bottom edge resting on the bottom of said sheath and its face surface substantially vertical and positioned slidably in said Weatherstrip groove, and a flat thumbshaped trigger angularly joined to one end of said arm such that the face surface of the trigger forms substantially a right angle with the face surface of said arm but less than a right angle with the bottom edge of said arm, said trigger extending through a slot in said threshold and being disposed between the hinged edge of said door and the associated hinge jamb in face-to-face relationship but angularly disposed with respect thereto when said door is open such that said trigger is engaged by said hinged edge upon closing of said door and is angularly displaced thereby into surface alignment with said hinge jamb, thus rocking said operating lever and causing said arm to engage and raise said Weatherstrip into contact with the bottom edge of said door, said arm being of such a length as to engage said Weatherstrip slightly on the hinge jamb side of its center point, thus causing the hinge jamb end of said strip to be raised first into contact with the bottom edge of said door and to there provide a fulcrum for the raising of the other end of said strip, said angle between the face surface of said trigger and the bottom edge of said arm being readily adjustable by bending said trigger with respect to said arm to regulate the height to which said strip is raised upon closing of said door, and said angle being set so that said strip contacts the bottom edge of said door slightly before said trigger is displaced into full alignment with said hinge jamb, thereby causing resilient deformation of said operating lever about a substantially lateral axis in the face surface of said trigger upon final angular displacement of said trigger, said resilient deformation providing a pressure contact between said Weatherstrip and the bottom edge of said door.

4. In a door threshold of the type positioned on the floor between the latch jamb and hinge jamb of a door frame and having a recessed sheath therein and a weatherstrip slidably mounted in said sheath, means for extending said strip from said sheath to engage the bottom edge of said door comprising: trigger means disposed between the hinged edge of said door and said hinge jamb in faceto-face relationship with said hinge jamb but angularly disposed with respect thereto when said door is open said trigger means being engaged by said hinged edge and angularly displaced into surface alignment with said hinge jamb upon closing of said door; and arm means angularly in the face surface thereof and provides a pressure contact between said strip and door.

5. In a door threshold of the type positioned on the floor between the latch jamb and hinge jamb of a door frame and having a recessed vertically opening sheath disposed longitudinally therein and a Weatherstrip with a groove in the bottom surface thereof freely and slidably mounted in said sheath, means for raising said Weatherstrip vertically in said sheath to engage the bottom edge of said door comprising: a single, L-shaped, one-piece operating lever formed from flat sheet metal material, said operating lever having an arm freely and slidably positioned in said Weatherstrip groove and nor mally disposed with its bottom edge resting on the bottom of said sheath and a trigger angularly joined to one end of said arm, said trigger extending above said threshold through a slot therein and being disposed between the hinge edge of said door and said hinge jamb in face-toface relationship with said hinge jamb but angularly disposed with respect thereto when said door is open such that upon closing of said door, said trigger is engaged by the hinge edge thereof and angularly displaced into alignment with said hinge jamb, thus rocking said operating lever and causing said arm to engage and raise said strip into contact with the bottom edge of said door, said arm being of such a length as to engage said strip slightly on the hinge jamb side of its center point, thus causing the hinge jamb end of said strip to be raised first into contact with the bottom edge of said door and to there provide a fulcrum for raising the other end of said strip, said angular disposition between said trigger and hinge jamb being readily adjustable by bending said trigger with respect to said arm to regulate the height to which said strip is raised upon closing of said door, said angle being set so that said strip contacts the bottom edge of said door slightly before said trigger is aligned with the surface of said hinge jamb, thereby causing resilient deformation of said trigger about a substantially lateral axis in its face surface during final angular displacement thereof, thus providing a pressure contact between said strip and said door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

